ALBAN Boyle, chairman of Sandymoor Community Association, urged councillors not to force the custody suite on residents.

He said: 'I ask you to put people first, before the demands of a government body whose needs can be satisfied by choosing another of the sites offered.

'Do not force this custody suite on the people of Sandymoor, or any other area in Halton.

'Once built, there is no turning back and we are the ones who will suffer the consequences of that decision.

'You cannot ignore 1,000 objections from the people who will be affected by this. We are justly proud of our democratic society, where the voices of the people in the street can be heard - please do not let their voices fall on deaf ears in this committee.

'How would you like to live with this on your doorstep and how would you feel about the safety of your family and home?

'Finally, can I quote from Article 1 of the Constitution of Halton Borough Council, where it states its aim is 'to create a vibrant borough that makes Halton a place where people are proud to live and see a promising future for themselves and their families'.'